No. 4 WLAX Defeats Sacred Heart To Advance To NCAA Second Round

Friday, May 12

Chapel Hill, N.C.

2 p.m. ET

North Carolina

15-4 (7-2)

Sacred Heart

11-8 (8-0)

Sacred Heart

North Carolina

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

No. 4 WLAX Defeats Sacred Heart To Advance To NCAA Second Round

May 12, 2023 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Behind Reilly Casey's career-high five goals, No. 4-seed University of North Carolina rolled past Sacred Heart, 16-5, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Dorrance Field on Friday afternoon.

The Tar Heels improve to 15-4 (7-2 ACC) on the year and advance to Sunday's second round. The Pioneers end their season at 11-8.

How It Happened

Reilly Casey had a goal and two assists in the first quarter, guiding the Tar Heels to a 4-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.
UNC's defense, which did not allow a goal for the first 17 minutes of play, forced SHU into six turnovers in the opening quarter.
The Pioneers tallied the first two of the second quarter before the Tar Heels responded with a 3-1 run, ending the half with a 7-3 advantage.
Casey made it a hat trick with just over four minutes left in the third quarter, while Marissa White did the same 45 seconds later to extend UNC's lead to 11-4.
Casey started a 5-1 run at the start of the fourth, scoring her career-high fifth two minutes later.
Carolina kept Sacred Heart scoreless for nearly 20 minutes, only allowing two goals in the second half.

Inside the Box Score

Brooklyn Walker-Welch led all players with five ground balls to best her previous career high of three.
UNC out-shot SHU 32-13, including 24-9 on goal.
Carolina had 16 draw controls to Sacred Heart's nine behind Olivia Dirks' game-high five.
UNC also had nine caused turnover to SHU's four, with three players each having two.
Sacred Heart was issued four yellow cards during the contest.
Goalkeeper Alecia Nicholas made four saves between the pipes.

Tar Heel Tidbits

This was the first meeting in program history between North Carolina and Sacred Heart.
The Tar Heels have won 63 of their last 68 games, and 71 of their last 77.
Carolina has scored double-figure goals 73 times in its last 77 games.
After dishing out two today, Casey is now two assists shy of ranking ninth all-time in program history for single-season assists.
Casey's five goals was a career high while her seven points tied her career best.
With three today, Caitlyn Wurzburger is now tied for fourth all-time in program history with 92 career assists.
Wurzburger is also three points away from reaching 200 in her career.

NCAA Tournament Tidbits

UNC is making its 24th overall, and 18th straight, NCAA Tournament appearance.
North Carolina has been awarded a top-5 seed for 14 straight seasons.
The Tar Heels own a 41-20 (.672) all-time record in NCAA games.
UNC is 30-3 in home games during the NCAA Tournament.
Carolina has won its opening NCAA game 22 times in its 24 appearances.
Jenny Levy's 41 NCAA wins rank third all-time by a head coach.
UNC's three national titles rank third all-time in NCAA history by a school.
Levy's three national titles rank fourth all-time by a head coach.
UNC is the defending national champion, having won in 2022 after an undefeated season.

Up Next
The fourth-seeded Tar Heels return to Dorrance Field for the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 12, to face Richmond, which beat Marquette, 18-8. First draw is set for noon ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Tickets are available for purchase here.

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